Poor Phantom

Kyle has talked about getting a dog ever since I started dating him.

We finally own our own place and could have one if we really wanted, but besides the fact that I think dogs at least need a little bit of grass to run around on I said we couldn't get one until we have enough time to even potty train a puppy.

Well, I guess I spoke to soon cause now we are having to figure out how to litter box train a kitten!

I thought cats instinctively use a litter box...

Poor Phantom is going onto KSL classifieds if she doesn't figure it out soon cause as I said before, we don't have time to potty train pets right now.

Kyle laid out some duct tape in the corner she keeps using and the other morning we woke up to see Phantom with a giant piece of duct tape stuck to her butt.  It was kinda sad, but also funny at the same time.  Until Kyle pulled it off.  Now we are using tin foil in the corner.

Makes me miss how clean and easy Kitty was.  He would even eat all the pieces of his food off the floor that I dropped, putting it into his dish.

Happier news is that finals are over! It was the first time I didn't even have to study for a test!  Just 3 photography projects to show and a photography business plan to turn in.

Hopefully at this time next year I will be at graduation, launching my business and starting to make some money!!

Better save my money until then though cause this last semester cost me $600 in printing and matting!

Not to mention the $1100 in medical bills I had to pay out of pocket.
All I know is that the next time I pass out and/or have a seizure there is no way that I am going to another doctor for it.

Obama's healthcare plans are the worst!

All they are required to cover are gender reassignment surgeries, contraception and everything else that isn't at all necessary!  United Healthcare didn't cover a single cent of the tests I had to have done.

Lame-o

Video Games

I HATE video games.

I feel like I need to defend myself in this because few people understand why.
I guess it first came from my mom not allowing toy guns or video games at our house, but more and more I see that nothing good comes from them.

Guns are not toys, killing people is not a game, and violence is not something I want my children involved with.  It has been proven to influence behavior.  Virtual friendships are not real friendships.

If you want to have good hand eye coordination then go play baseball, learn to sew, do something productive!

If you want a hobby, something fun to do then go outside and fish, go on a hike, ride a bike, get some exercise, fresh air and real human interaction.
Video games are a waste of time.

Not to mention they are addictive.

The whole reason God gave us agency is so that we can have freedom. Most of the commandments God gives us are to protect our freedom.  When we have addictions, no matter what they are, we are not fully free to decide for ourselves anymore and give up our agency, the most important gift that God gave us.

Drugs (whether prescription or otherwise), alcohol, tobacco, pornography, gambling, coffee, tea, caffeine, being in debt, video games are all things we could become addicted to and are asked, by prophets, to avoid because they can potentially destroy our bodies and/or families.

These things do not help us become closer to our Savior or keep the needed companionship of the Holy Ghost so are not worth playing with, including offensive television, movies, youtube videos, music or whatever your choice of media may be.
I know I have a lot of improvement needed in my own life as far as wasting time on Facebook or watching television shows that aren't the best.  Even most PG-13 movies are worse than what I would want to watch.
I am aware that there are good video games out there and that it's about how much time is being spent playing them and what kinds vs. more wholesome activities.
I am not so ignorant as to think that everyone that drinks caffeinated drinks is a bad person either!
If my kids want to go play video games at their friends house then that will be their choice, but they won't be in my house.  Kyle already knows that if he were bring an xbox home that I would melt it in the oven :)

I just want to have an eternal perspective with what is good, better, or best for my life, my time and my future family and do the best that I can to avoid as much bad as I can.
I know God gives us commandments because they bless us, whether it is with a health for the body he gave us, the companionship of the Holy Ghost or peace and safety, He loves us and only wants us to be happy in our families now and for eternity.

That is my soapbox.

He is Risen

This image by Walter Rane is my all time favorite Easter picture ever!

HE IS NOT HERE, BUT IS RISEN

Luke 24:6

I love that the cross is not a symbol of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It is because although Christ died for us, He is not dead anymore.

I know that my Savior lives!

And because he does every person also will overcome physical death and one day be resurrected to a perfect body.

Without Easter, Christmas would not even matter.

"Christ's Atonement doesn't just make up the difference, it makes all the difference."

Everything that is unfair about this life will be made right through the Atonement.

Because of His sacrifice we can also overcome spiritual death, through his grace we can be clean enough to live with God again.  He overcame all the effects of the Fall.

God's plan is just so perfect and He loves each of us so much!

I never remember feeling the spirit of Easter as strong as I did at church today.

How could the Father tell the world

Of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe,

With peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world

The pathway we should go?

He sent his Son to walk with men

On earth that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world

Of sacrifice, of death?

He sent his Son to die for us

And rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us?

What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son,

Help others on their way.

What does he ask?

Live like his Son.

The last line of this song is so important to me because we aren't only asked to believe that Christ is our Savior, but to LIVE like Him, BECOME like Him, SHOW your faith.

If I don't do the best I can then I am not taking advantage of what Christ did for me like I should.

So since making memories with family is such a big part of His plan here are some of our Easter memories we made.

We have been looking on KSL for kittens for a few weeks now.  Kyle told me he would get me one for Easter if Kitty never came home, but I never realized how hard it is to find pets! I have never shopped for one before, I usually just take them as they come!

Finally yesterday we called on one posted that hour and were able to get it at 11:30 at night!!

So this is our new kitty, Phantom.  She has a mask like the Phantom of the Opera :)

NUMBER 8 on the bucket list- check!

Last night, before we picked up Phantom, we got to dye Easter eggs with Jon and Sydney! 

We don't get to see them as much now that we aren't all living in the same apartment building, but the last time we dyed eggs was with them 2 years ago.

I bought this kit last year and we never got a chance to use it.   

Getting together with friends is always so much fun though, I love it!

I tried drawing Olaf on one of my eggs, but I don't know how to draw Olaf...

 Kyle wanted french toast for breakfast, but I wanted german pancakes (with sour cream and brown sugar) so we ended up just making both!

So yummy in my tummy!

Good food and good family and friends make holidays so worth it.

HAPPY EASTER!

Listen to a Prophets Voice

I love General Conference so much!

Not only for the life changing messages from prophets of God, but also for the tradition of sharing it with family.
This year Stephanie got to come to the Women's Conference with us and she got a kick out of all the women dressed up at Magleby's for dinner before going to the conference.

These are a few things I heard that I want to remember.

 "Even if everyone is doing it, wrong is never right." -Nelson

"The truth with always be opposed." -Corbridge

"Are you the same person wherever you are, whatever you are doing?" -Monson
 Justifying our actions does not change spiritual law or the consequences. -Hales
I feel like these talks went together so well! The argument for morals now is what the majority says they are, but God's way is still the ONLY right way. 

God decides what is right and how does he decide? Based on what will bring us perfect happiness!

Sometimes we may stand alone, but being who we know we should be and being true to our testimony is right and will be worth it, no matter what the "majority" thinks.  The world and the media want us to accept and agree with all their choices to be immodest, immoral and vulgar, but they get so offended by what we believe.  The hypocrisy is unbelievable!  If they don't think they should conform to God then why would they think members of the church should conform to what man thinks?!  How do so many parents in the world not see the benefit of having family values?
Something being legal does not make it right.
All the opposition around the church's doctrine only strengthens my testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel. 

It also drives me crazy when others think you are judging them just because you won't do what they are doing.  Living my beliefs doesn't mean I am judging anyone!  I can still love people who don't do what I do and even when I don't agree with their choices I can still accept that they have the same agency that I do and the same right to live however they want.

If we want to help others change then we need to sincerely love them so they will gain confidence in God's love. -Scott 

Being Christ-like is treating others weaknesses the same way you want your weaknesses to be treated.  They won't be the same, we may not understand them, but we all have them.

All we can do is measure ourselves against the Savior and hope that tomorrow we are better than we were today.

Number 4

We attempted number 4 on the summer bucket list yesterday by going fishing for a few hours at Deer Creek.  We didn't really complete number 4 though because we never caught a fish.  Although when I say we, I mean Kyle.  Instead of actually fishing I walked around and took photos of all the weeds!

I don't think we have caught a fish since the time my Grandpa took us fishing over spring break in 2009… We still enjoy being in the mountains though and one day Kyle will catch a fish again!

Summer Bucket List

I am getting pretty excited for SUMMER

First because I don't have any classes to take during the second block and

Second: We get to go on our cruise at the end of summer!
Totally worth the wait!
"A drink in my hand, my snow up against the burning sand, probably getting gorgeously tanned in
Suuummmmmer"

I still have more on my bucket list though and the good news is that one of the things on my list is already done and summer hasn't even started!

1. Camping at the Hot Pots- DONE!

2. Drive out to see the Spiral Jetty
(Swim/float in the Salt Lake)

3. Hike to the Y
(Never done this before)

4. Go fishing with Kyle 
(and hopefully catch a fish this time! AND eat it :)

5. Beat my mom in our competition to run a mile on the treadmill without stopping

(I haven't done that since before my mission, only 5 YEARS ago!)

6. Have a water fight

(I know I will regret putting this on my list when I end up getting really cold, but right now it sounds fun)

7. Go to Seven Peaks

(Hopefully Kyle will ride the Boomerang with me!)

8. Sleep in the back yard (well back cement)

 9. Get a new pet

(We went to PetCo this week and saw a little red tail boa, only $189…) 

In the same week Kitty ran away and Pokey died- The two best pets I ever had! I will miss them dearly…

Anyways, the bucket list is do-able right?!

I live for summer.  It's like the weekends, only meant for having fun!

Real treats

Tonight in my wedding photography class, with Justin Hackworth, he brought Mindy Gledhill to speak to us about creativity!

She had some super helpful exercises for us that taught me some good things about myself, where my creative blocks come from and networking etc…  

It's all about finding your own path and not waiting for other people's permission to do what you want to do.  Thinking about what you loved to do as a child will give you clues to your happiness.  My favorite things to do as a kid were jump on the tramp, sleep outside, ride my bike and pretend it was my horse, swim, sing, play with my cousins etc… and if those things made me happy then why stop doing them now?! 

Don't be the person in someone's monster hall of fame, be the kind of person to be in their champion hall of fame and build their confidence- that will lead to your success.

Mindy is so sweet and gave each of us a copy of her new album, Pocket full of Poetry, as well!  Class was worth it tonight!